Hey guys, Just to let everyone know that I've put on 220 miles since I put the new engine in...I know that’* not very many miles yet, but runs like a top until then.....The tranny has about 98,000 miles on it...and I am now feeling hard shifts in every gear. When you first start it up, it shifts very smoothly. Then if you drive it just a little harder it will start to shift very hard. I notice when it acts up, it shifts faster than normal, and along with the thud that I feel...Not too long ago I changed the fluid along with the filter..I noticed a little bit of sludge, but no noticeable metal shavings. I did refill it up with the cheap Advance auto tranny fluid that comes in the black 1 gallon jugs..Do you think that fluid is thinning out way to much when it gets warm?

Here’* another bad sign of a tranny problem....Went to check the fluid level today...It'* where it should be, but then noticed a piece of metal shaving on the dipstick..That piece of metal shaving may be from that hard shifting?? I don't ever gun the heck out of my car, only when I think I’m going to be hit! And almost forgot to mention that when I feel these hard shifts, then park the vehicle, I hear a high pitched, (sort of sounds like a vacuum leak) around the tranny area....Remember I only hear this sound when the tranny acts up....I did read the tranny topic in the help section.....Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated ……..Ryan

It is tough to say what the issue is most likely. Metal shavings are as you know bad. Most likely something is going bad in the transmission, when it senses this it defaults to maximum pressure shifts to help limp you home.

Are there any vacum lines that I should know about?

Sounds like your Pressure Regulator Solenoid has failed.
It'll shift hard and make a slight whining noise also.
If you fix it soon you may put off a rebuild at the moment.If you keep driving it with this condition is will go bad very soon
Good luck!

Do you think adding a shift kit would help this problem I am having? I’m 99.9% sure that it is the PCS solenoid...The car will run excellent for a little while, and then start to shift hard, along with the tranny pump whining. If you think this shift kit will help in any way, please let me know....I thank everyone on Bonnevilleforums for helping me out when I had questions...I am very pleased with the knowledge many people have to offer here!!! From what I see this one of the best Pontiac Bonneville forums I am associated with.....Everyone keep up the good work!!

A shift kit will not help. It may in fact cause more damage. If you found a metal shaving on the dip stick, you may want to drop the pan and check for more shavings or chunks. If it doesn't look to bad, replace the filter and put in some Dexron III fluid.

Absolutely not,you have an internal problem that has to be fixed or the tranny will destroy itself.Change the solenoid then add the kit if you'd like

I'm going to disagree completely on your conclusion that his EPC solenoid is the only cause. While it can cause harsh shifting upon warm up and some pump whine, it should not cause metal shavings. The part that scares a guy like me about this is...I've had failures, bad failures with more metal in the pan than anyone wants to see, I've yet to see any flake on the dipstick. That'* a lot of metal right there. Something has failed and is taking metal chunks with it. To replace a soleniod and move on does not correct the issue that is causing the metal in the pan.

.Either way,if he changes it one problem is fixed and go from there.It still can be a useable trans.
If he drops the pan and theres a lot of metal,pull the trans and have it rebuilt with a new converter and valve body.
i've seen many trannies with a few fragments go on,but considerable metal ,don't waste your time pull it.

Ahhh, maybe I read too quickly. I'm with you now. Keep it limping at least by doing the soleniod and stop commanding max (seal blowing) pressures. Then either see how long it lasts or yank and fix the issue.

If there'* enough metal that it'* suspended and showing on the stick, it'* probably clogging the fliter and causing a possible starvation situation...but thinking further..does that aloow a harsh shift, it should cause a weak shift.